Charlotte Becker and Carla Swart sign for HTC-Highroad
Charlotte Becker and Carla Swart will transfer to rival women’s pro team HTC-Highroad in 2011. With the Cervelo TestTeam disbanding at the end of the season, most of the women’s team, including new world time-trial champion Emma Pooley, will be moving to
team Garmin, which will also take on Cervelo as a second title sponsor.
Pooley, who is also the current British national time trial and road-race champion (she has also collected eight other victories this season), will be bringing many of her current supporters to Garmin-Cervelo next year, but not all of them.
"I wanted to keep the team as similar as possible, really, but not everyone wanted to come to the new team...I am very sad to lose some team-mates…not just because they were awesome team-mates, but also because they are also friends. But that is the way
it is."
28-year-old Becker is the current German national champion and the winner of the 2010 World Cup GP Ciudad de Valladolid. She currently stands in the top ten in the UCI World Rankings.
"I think it's a great team, and it has been a long-time dream for me to ride for this team...I had a good season this year and signing on with HTC-Highroad is the perfect conclusion. I hope that I will be a helpful part of the 2011 season."
22-year-old Swart has signed on in keeping with the team’s emphasis on developing young riders. Despite her short career, the South African rider finished in tenth at the world championships and has secured several other top ten finishes.
"I'm thrilled to join this team, with its veteran riders and all the team has to offer...It's a great opportunity and I look forward to contributing to the team's success in 2011."
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